UCLan supports BIBA's Academy

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is helping to support winners of this year’s Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs) through the delivery of an academy of excellence.

The BIBAs Academy is a year-long programme which provides the award winners with advice, support and expertise to help them achieve further success.

Masterclasses and workshops will take place at UCLan’s Preston Campus through its business support hub, the Centre for SME Development, which launched earlier this year to help small to medium sized enterprises to grow.

The BIBA winners will receive masterclasses from business leaders including Edwin Booth and Tony Attard, as well as undertaking a number of site visits including Farmhouse Biscuits and BAE Systems.

Professor Sue Smith, director of the Centre for SME Development, said: “UCLan has a strong reputation for supporting Lancashire businesses and so we’re pleased to be involved with the BIBAs Academy, helping winners capitalise on their awards and inspire them to further success.”

The BIBAs is one of Lancashire’s biggest and longest running awards ceremony and is organised by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, with 18 categories including Business and Business Person of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year and Lancastrian of the Year.

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, organisers of the BIBAs said: “The BIBAs is about more than just recognising the achievements of Lancashire firms and handing out trophies, it is about leaving a legacy.

"We introduced the Academy to help the best in our county get even better which can only spur their growth, employment and innovation.

"The programme we have this year should provide our winners with the inspiration, ideas and knowledge to take their businesses forward. Picking up the trophy is only the start of their BIBAs journey.”

The first workshop in the programme will be held in November by accountancy firm Moore and Smalley, which is also supporting the academy, on planning a growth strategy.

Stephen Gregson, director at Moore and Smalley, said: “We’re really excited to be even more closely involved with the BIBAs Academy programme for 2016-17 than we ever have been in the past. There is a very diverse range of winners this year, many at different stages of development. This variety of size, sector and experience should result in some very thought provoking sessions as the winners move through their programme.”